The Capture of Zion Gate: A Corridor to the Jewish Quarter
The respective commanders of the Jerusalem area, and of the Fourth Battalion, agreed that the Fourth Battalion would carry out the assault on the Old City. The district forces would provide reinforcements and supplies, and evacuate the wounded. After the attack, they would relieve the Palmach force. On the night of 19.5.48, engineers of the Fourth Battalion blew up the Zion Gate, and established a corridor to the defenders of the Jewish Quarter.
It was clear that for any breakthrough to the Jewish Quarter, provision must be made for relieving the fighters at their positions; and that after the breakthrough, the wounded would have to be evacuated, reinforcements brought in, and food, water and ammunition made available. In a summary put together by Uzi Narkis, together with the senior officers of the Jerusalem district, it was stated that the breakthrough and link-up with the besieged Jewish quarter should be carried out by Palmach personnel; while everything else connected with the operation, would be the responsibility of the Jerusalem district forces. It was not planned that the Palmach force should remain in the Quarter after the battle.
In the afternoon, a unit of raw recruits from the Jerusalem Field Corps arrived, under Mordechai Gazit. The tasks assigned to them were not clearly defined; nor had they received any prior briefing.
At nightfall, a unit of engineers set out for Mount Zion, followed by the men of the Field Corps. On arriving, they found the place manned by exhausted soldiers. It was barely possible to put together a group of 24 volunteers --- most of them officers --- for the breakthrough.
At about 0200 in the morning of 19.5.1948, the support company opened up with machine gun fire on the Arab positions on the wall, and with the ”Davidka” mortar on those in the Armenian Quarter. The Arabs fled in disarray. The engineers laid a heavy demolition charge at the Zion Gate. When it went off, the attacking force burst through and took control of the street, about 250 meters long, which led to the Jewish quarter, establishing a corridor of communication with the latter.
The men of the Field Corps followed, carrying weapons and medical supplies. The ambulances and medics, who should have been there to evacuate the wounded --- did not appear. Neither did those men who were to relieve the defenders of the Quarter and the men of the Palmach assault group.
In the afternoon, a unit of raw recruits from the Jerusalem Field Corps arrived, under Mordechai Gazit. The tasks assigned to them were not clearly defined; nor had they received any prior briefing.
At nightfall, a unit of engineers set out for Mount Zion, followed by the men of the Field Corps. On arriving, they found the place manned by exhausted soldiers. It was barely possible to put together a group of 24 volunteers --- most of them officers --- for the breakthrough.
At about 0200 in the morning of 19.5.1948, the support company opened up with machine gun fire on the Arab positions on the wall, and with the ”Davidka” mortar on those in the Armenian Quarter. The Arabs fled in disarray. The engineers laid a heavy demolition charge at the Zion Gate. When it went off, the attacking force burst through and took control of the street, about 250 meters long, which led to the Jewish quarter, establishing a corridor of communication with the latter.
The men of the Field Corps followed, carrying weapons and medical supplies. The ambulances and medics, who should have been there to evacuate the wounded --- did not appear. Neither did those men who were to relieve the defenders of the Quarter and the men of the Palmach assault group.